Details of
this plane B-24 KG964 from
RAF Commands web-site found by Steve Nichol and Lars
Wikander:
25/26-2-1945 No.224 Sqn.
Liberator VIII KG964:XB-D
See also
Google Map p486_B-24_KG964.
Took off 2207
Milltown on the
25th, with a load of ten 250lb depth charges, detailed to carry out an
anti-submarine patrol in the vicinity of the Swedish coast. Nothing
was heard from the aircraft after take off, and it did not return to
base*.
CWGC-links: 144782 F/O (Capt./Pilot)
Reginald William PONTING RAFVR +
Panel 267 on the Runnymede Memorial.
1801251 F/Sgt (2nd Pilot)
Ronald HADLOW RAFVR +
Panel 271 on the Runnymede Memorial. AUS420022 F/L (1st
Nav.)
Claude MAPLETOFT RAAF +
Panel 282 on the Runnymede Memorial. J/95233 P/O (2nd Nav.)
Leslie Anwyl
CHADWICK RCAF +
Panel 280 on the Runnymede Memorial. 1064874 F/Sgt (Flt. Eng.)
John James WILLIAMS
RAFVR +
Panel 273 on the Runnymede Memorial.
R/189573 F/Sgt (W.Op.[Air])
Thomas Edward MURPHY RCAF +
Panel 282 on the Runnymede Memorial. R/195678
F/Sgt (W.Op.[Air])
Joseph Leo GALLIPEAU RCAF +
See also the Falkenbergs Tidning 28 FEB 1945
and Hallands Nyheter 28 FEB + 03 MAR 1945.
658750 F/Sgt (W.Op.[Air])
Cyril JACKSON RAF +
Panel 271 on the Runnymede Memorial. 1881845 Sgt (Air Gnr.)
Maurice George BLISS RAFVR +
Panel 273 on the Runnymede Memorial. 2209857 Sgt (Air Gnr.)
Dafydd Cynfal
DAVIES RAFVR + (listed on CWGC as No.244 Sqn.) Panel 274
on the Runnymede Memorial. 1899789 Sgt (Air Gnr.)
Gilbert William CARTER RAFVR +
Panel 274 on the Runnymede Memorial.
The remains of F/Sgt
Gallipeau RCAF, were washed ashore at
Varberg on the Swedish west coast and buried in
Varberg. (Well, actually the body of Gallipeau was
found by Birger Karlsson, the skipper of a Swedish trawler, see Hallands Nyheter 28 FEB + 03 MAR 1945.)
The remaining 10 crew members are
commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
* Liberator XB-P of the same squadron reported a loud explosion at
0304 hours, which may have been KG964 blowing up. The crew of XB-P
also reported the presence of a so-called 'Sperr
Brecher' (a ship equipped with anti-aircraft guns and other
artillery) in the area, and reported light flak passing over their
aircraft. This may have been what caused the the loss of KG964
(AIR27/1389)
See: 'Making For Sweden...' Part 1- The RAF 1939
to 1945. Wegmann,Rolph & Bo Widfeldt. Walton-on-Thames:Air
Research Publications,1997. pp.225-6
Additional information from Lars Wikander on 22 JUN 2019:
German steamer Ginnheim reported: ”shot down NE
of Anholt”
RAF: The 224 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/1389) has the
following notation regarding Liberator KG964/D - "(See Leuchars
Form Orange 02"26/Feb/45 reference 0311/26 - aircraft in flames etc.)"
Form Orange LEU/02/26 can be traced to the 547 Sqn ORB (AIR 27/2034).
The Form 541 entry for Liberator S on 25-26 February 1945
records: "At
0311 in position 56 44 N, 12 ?? E observed on port beam, 5
miles (8 kms) distant, flak followed by a fire in the air, obviously
an aircraft. This aircraft was later seen to crash in the sea,
burning furiously. The flak came from a convoy of 8 - 9 ships".
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